The Water Year

Not a bad story. Nice quick read, possibly great for reluctant readers. However, i would caution this writer, who shows promise, to be careful of turning a good story into a cliche polemic.

This book was a very clear 3.5/5 rounded up in my mind. It had a great concept, and I was excited to check this book out for my students.

What I really loved about this book was the plot. There was a clear story that was well organized. At no point in the novel did I feel lost or confused about what was going on. I even liked the letters that Sophie wrote at the beginning of most of the chapters (which is something that would usually really bug me) because they were used so purposefully to add Sophie's own feelings on the situation. I also thought the primary conflict that Sophie was struggling with was believable and real. So many Middle Grade and YA books lean into cheesy drama, but the stakes in this book were real. This would be a great book to start the conversation with students about immigration in the United States and what it means to be a global citizen.

Keeping in mind that this book really is marketed towards older Middle Grade or younger High School students, I still felt like there was more to be desired from the characters. While I appreciated how short the book was (something that would definitely attract a struggling or reluctant reader), I felt that adding an extra 40-50 pages for character/conflict development would have done this story well. I liked Sophie and her friends, but I didn't really feel for them, and I felt like their emotions were told to me instead of shown. This book could have been even more powerful if the reader was able to feel Sophie's frustrations over being her family's house manager, her anxiety about being discovered as a Human Kind member, or her growing infatuation with Rubén.

***I was provided with an e-ARC of this book from West 44 Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are my own.***

This was a short, quick, but engaging read.. I didn't know what to expect but found the prose to be well done and the overall plot to be easy to understand. As someone who reads a lot, I wanted a bit more from the characters and development of the story, but this could be a great book to include in classroom libraries to recommend to students who don't like to read or feel intimidated by larger books.

The Water Year is about some teens becoming involved with undocumented immigrants crossing the United States/Mexico border and the risk involved. It is a fast-paced story that will be an easy read for struggling readers. The astonishing facts presenting throughout the story cannot be ignored and will offer a window of understanding for readers. This book is a great option for a whole classroom read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and West 44 Books for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie spends her days helping out at the family restaurant, doing school work and helping out around the house to include watching her baby sister, Violent. Ever since her mother passed away Sophie has had to take on more responsibility to help her family. She has barely seen her best friend Amy, especially since Amy’s new boyfriend Lucas has been around. That is until Amy invites Sophie to a party at the beach. Although Sophie is more interested in hanging out with her best friend than she is going to a party, she still agrees to go. What Sophie doesn’t realize is going to this party will change her world like she could’ve never imagined.

I chose this book because it was described as a HI-LO read in NetGalley’s title description. And we have students that could benefit from having books such as this at their disposal. However, this is one of the better HI-LO’s I’ve ever read. There was a clear story with a definitive plot. Initially, the letters to Sophie’s mother threw me a bit, I felt like it broke up the flow of the book. However, I would find as the story progressed that they played a major role in understanding Sophie.

This would be a great selection for a classroom read or a book club for middle grades. The topic of immigration is always an important topic to discuss. But this book would allow for many other conversations to flow from the pages within. This is a short book that packs a nice little punch. I would recommend this book for teachers classrooms, for those students who need a good HI-LO book, and for middle schoolers in general.

Thanks to NetGalley and West 44 Books for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short book that packs a nice little punch.
The Water Year is about some teens becoming involved with undocumented immigrants crossing the United States/Mexico border and the risk involved. The main character Sophie has a lot to take on and it can be very relatable for middle grade readers.
This would be a great book to start the conversation with students about immigration in the United States and what it means to be a global citizen.

I have read quite a few of these Hi-Lo, prose/poetry style books now and I am being totally honest I would have kind of wrinkled my nose up at reading poetry/prose but these books have really changed my mind!

The cover is simple and effective as it features a large water container that has a large significance in the story. When I saw this book and read the blurb, I felt compelled to read it and share my thoughts on it.

The main character of the book is Sophie who is still grieving the loss of her mother. Sophie carries a lot of weight and responsibility on her young shoulders as she is expected to fit into the role of the “woman of the house” when at home, fixing something to eat for her younger sister Violet and keeping the house neat and tidy too. Sophie also helps out a lot at the family restaurant, which is called Fresh Ranch whilst keeping an eye on Violet at the same time. Sophie has been in and out of the restaurant from being very young so when her dad gets worried about Violet being there it irritates Sophie a little. Sophie is a bit fed up at not seeing enough of her best friend Amy lately. Amy has a boyfriend called Lucas who thinks he is cool, but Sophie finds him annoying and sarcastic. Lucas constantly clicks his tongue ring and Sophie finds it infuriating. Sophie doesn’t have a boyfriend though she does have a crush on the Mexican delivery boy that brings Fresh Ranch its baked goods and pastries whose name is Ruben Velez. Amy coerces and cajoles Sophie into going to the Sato twins party, they are having in the desert area. It’s whilst at this part that Sophie makes a shocking discovery. That makes her wonder exactly what her dad and Uncle Matt do in the Desert Rangers camp outs. Sophie thought it gave her dad an outside of work activity, distract from thinking of her mom so much maybe and at the moment it probably takes Uncle Matt’s mind off his divorce from Aunt Rachel.
After discovering the plight of immigrants and their long trek across the desert without water, Sophie decides she wants to help and that’s how she ends up meeting Ruben Velez and getting to know more about him. Ruben is part of human kind, an organisation that regularly goes out into the desert and leaves large water containers for the thirsty. However, the problem is as quickly as human kind are putting out these water containers someone is slashing them in an attempt to discourage the immigrants. Amy decides they should do a school play about the plight of the immigrants and ropes in Sophie to help.

I adored the character of Sophie, in one way she is so grown up, helping in the family business, taking care of her younger sister but in other ways she is still so young and naïve. Though perhaps her father fails to see it Sophie is also still missing her mother dearly and writes letters to her which form part of this book.

I thought the water droplets as the Chapter separators was really different yet very relevant to the book’s content. I enjoyed the letters Sophie wrote to her mother and the “signs” she saw as replies from her mother were poignant and realistic. I also liked the nod to current children’s films with the reference to “Ice Fairies” and the way Sophie and Amy watch it with Violet so much that they know the words and sing them which totally confuses Amy’s boyfriend Lucas who has no idea about the song “Here I Am”, the words or where it is from. I loved the sweet naïve first crush, and first dates scenario between Ruben and Sophie.

I think the book was very well written and covers a few serious subjects such as, death of a parent, friends getting boyfriend, first boyfriends and of course the main element of immigration. The style of the book makes it easy to read, there are no super long words, or complicated explanations to put off a newer reader or perhaps a more reluctant reader off in any way, yet the plot remains interesting all the way through and can be enjoyed by more experienced readers too. I honestly think anything that encourages more people to read is a fantastic idea. For me, I usually read these in just one of two reading sessions, so these are perfect for me to read in bed before I go to sleep or to curl up on the sofa with a cup of decaffeinated, dairy free coffee with!

My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were that I really enjoyed this story of two teenagers that have a secret crush on each other. a girl mourning her mother whilst trying to step up and being the "woman of the household" helping to care for her younger sister who realises her father is part of something she doesn't morally agree with. Will she go against his wishes? Will he accept her opinion and meet her part way?

To sum up this is an amazing story told in a brilliant way!

In under 100 pages, The Water Year packs a surprisingly powerful punch. 

This hard-hitting YA contemporary (with a sprinkle of romance) follows the story of Sophie as she joins an immigrant aid group while also coming to terms with learning her father is a Desert Ranger, finding fun in making sure those crossing the border from Mexico never make it.

This book somehow handles a lot of tough subject matter with grace in what I thought would be an impossibly small span of pages. And it somehow manages to develop its small cast of characters well enough to root for right away. 

I loved the element of the letters in the story, the strong narration they supplied and the few surprises that they held in a book where the synopsis gives almost everything away, including the overall message of the story. 

The only thing about a story that takes little more than an hour to read is that it doesn’t hold the lasting impression that a story that contains so many important moments deserves. It feels...fleeting. I can’t help thinking that a full-length work could have served much better for memorability, and to move the audience in a way that better suits the topics at hand. Plus, there were so many good elements that extending the story seems like it could only have served to make it that much better.

I rated The Water Year 4 out of 5 stars. Fans of Internment and People Kill People will probably like this. 

Thank you to Netgalley and West 44 books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This story was very short less then 100 pages long. I don't normally read books in prose and poems but this one really gripped me. This was a very serious story that packs a powerful punch.


Go Into This One Knowing: Short Story (less than 100 pages), Prose, Death of a Parent

***Thank you, Net Galley and West 44 books for providing me with a free e-Arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sophie is a high school student who has recently lost her mother. She is forced to step into the role of ‘woman of the house’ helping her dad at the family restaurant, Fresh Ranch, cooking dinner, completing household chores, and taking care of her younger sister Violet. Sophie is struggling with the loss of her mother, she’s struggling in these new roles she’s had to take on, and she’s struggling to deal with normal teen issues. One night Sophie attends a friend’s party in the middle of the desert. What she discovers at this party forever changes how she views the world and the community around her. Sophie has to find ways to do what she knows is right even if the people around her, including her family, don’t feel the same.

I chose this book because I was looking for titles that may be appropriate in my classroom and it is intended for middle school readers. The text is easy to read and would be great for struggling or reluctant readers. I think the subject of the story would spark some great classroom discussions and inform students of facts they may not know about immigration.

However, I also felt like the story was rushed. I get that the author wanted to make the story a short, quick read because of the targeted audience, but I felt like I needed more. The character development just wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be. I felt like the characters told me how they felt rather than showing me. Some issues that arose in the story were simply glossed over and parts where there could have been some really good conflict were conveniently tied up with a bow.

Overall, I felt like this was a good story, relevant to the lives of people today. This story deals with some hard-hitting, often polarizing issues, but would definitely be a great read for the classroom.

The format and language made this story easy to read, and it would be a nice addition to a classroom library. It could pair well with a social studies unit about immigration. The conflict is good, and I think students will relate to finding a passion for something that doesn't align with the work/values of other family members. I thought the back and forth between first person letter and third person might be a little confusing for some readers and the main character's voice felt a bit young, but overall it was a quick, enjoyable read.

Short but powerful The Water Year is a must read. This hard-hitting YA contemporary follows the story of Sophie, who joins an immigrant aid group, while also coming to terms with her father's Desert Ranger status. This book manages to pull off a lot of difficult subjects with grace. It also manages to develop a few characters who are well-developed. The letters in the story added a lot to the overall story. They also provided some surprises, especially with the main message of the book. The only thing that stops a story that takes less than an hour to read is that it holds the impression that it’s worth the time invested in. Thank you, West 44 Books for the gifted copy via net galley.

The Water Year is about some teens becoming involved with undocumented immigrants crossing the United States/Mexico border and the risk involved. It is a fast-paced story that will be an easy read for struggling readers. The astonishing facts presenting throughout the story cannot be ignored and will offer a window of understanding for readers. This book is a great option for a whole classroom read. (